New Downtown San Diego Parking Rules In Effect

Posted in 2025 in Parking & Transportation

The wins may be flowing but the city is broke. Starting September 1, 2025, San Diego will implement special event surge pricing for street parking near Petco Park, raising rates to $10 an hour during major events. These changes aim to reduce traffic congestion and fund local infrastructure improvements in the East Village and Gaslamp Quarter.

Where is parking increased?

Within a half-mile radius of Petco Park, bounded roughly by:

North: Broadway

West: State Street

East: I-5

South: Harbor Drive and 16th Street

Parking Rates

Meters

For standard parking meters, the rate is $2.50/hour (doubled from earlier $1.25/hour).

Sunday Parking is no longer free. You will have to pay meters.

Hours: The hours in which meters will be enforced has been extended 2 hours, with most ending at 10pm.

Special Event Metered Parking
For "special events" the meter rates with bloat to a cancerous $10/hour. This applies from 2 hours prior to event start time to 4 hours after the event start time. Example: For a 7pm concert, the thunderous rates will be in effect from 5-11. The limit will be extended to 6 hours. (The perks of laying a cool $60).

Disability Vehicles with a Disabled Person Placard will still be able to park for free during these periods. While your nose is already bleeding, note the new city rules grant permission to charge up to $20/hour.

What Are Special Events?

Right now, special event pricing is in effect during Padres games, Petco events with 10,000 attendees or more (so, Savannah Bananas, full-stadium concerts like Chris Brown, WWE Wrestling.

The Bright Side

All meter revenue will be reinvested in that same parking meter zone it was collected, helping to free up other budget resources for non-transportation city services.

If you need more info, please go straight to the source.

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